Return of linebacker Pace boosts Jets
Pace's placeAs good as the Jets' fourth-ranked defense has been through four games, it will get a big jolt beginning Wednesday when LB Calvin Pace practices for the first time after his four-game suspension for violating the league's performance-enhancing drugs policy. Pace, their best pass rusher, looked good in preseason with 12 tackles and two sacks. His versatility gives Rex Ryan one more defensive weapon. "We almost sound like another kid was playing with that toy and now we finally get one," Ryan said. "I'm definitely excited about Calvin. He's a rare guy and one of the premier players in this league."
Bouncing back
This marks the first week the Jets are coming off a loss in the Mark Sanchez/Rex Ryan era. The Jets were disappointed with how things went down in Sunday's 24-10 loss to the Saints, and they have an extra day to wait to get that taste out of their mouths before playing the Dolphins on "Monday Night Football." Said safety Jim Leonhard: "You just go out and get better. You can't dwell on it. You dwell on losses in this league and that's when you get in trouble."
Rex vs. ChanningRyan and Dolphins LB Channing Crowder got into a "playful'' war of words during the spring, with Ryan saying, "I've walked over tougher people going to a fight than Channing Crowder" and that "If I was younger, I'd take care of him myself." Crowder responded by calling Ryan "the OTA Super Bowl winner" and later proclaimed victory in the verbal jousting before offering: "We play twice this season, so we'll see who the better team is then."
Ryan was reminded of his fun with Crowder on Monday. "I hope he's thinking about me," he said with a laugh. "That's something else we've got to worry about, Channing Crowder. That is funny. I haven't had one thought about that."
